Charles Spurgeon

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (June 19, 1834- January 31, 1892) was England's best-known preacher for most of the second half of the nineteenth century. In 1854, just four years after his conversion, Spurgeon, then only 20, became pastor of London's famed New Park Street Church (formerly pastored by the famous Reformed Baptist theologian John Gill).

The congregation quickly outgrew their building, moved to Exeter Hall, then to Surrey Music Hall. In these venues Spurgeon frequently preached to audiences numbering more than 10,000—all in the days before electronic amplification. In 1861 the congregation moved permanently to the newly constructed Metropolitan Tabernacle.

Charles is often associated with the Puritan movement and is highly regarded among Presbyterians, though he differs with them over the issue of baptism.